Title: The Lord Raises
One hot summer day, a man was looking at a large freezer compartment.
"If you're inside, the heat wouldn't be a problem, would it?" I thought.
This man crawled into the freezer compartment. However, a sudden wind blew the door shut and locked.
He was confused and didn't know what to do.
I knocked, pushed, and kicked the door with all my might but couldn't open it. He struggled a lot, eventually exhausted and despairing.
"No one will survive in this situation. I'm dead now. I can't do it."
He finally began to write something to leave his mark.
After some time, when people found him, he was already dead.
However, the inside of the freezer was about 15 degrees Celsius, there was still enough oxygen, and he had not been locked up for long enough to starve, so people could not understand why he died.
Moreover, the freezer was a broken freezer that had not worked for a month.
This is a story that shows just how terrifying despair can be.
When people of our faith live in the world, we often encounter such cases. I don't know how many people give up on life because they feel discouraged, resign themselves, and despair of themselves.
Today's Word of God clearly teaches us what to do in the changing environment as believers.
"Has any of you suffered?"
"Is there anyone among you who rejoices?"
"Is anyone among you sick?"
It teaches you what to do when you are in such a different environment.
In particular, the book of James contains many instructional words about the real life of us believers.
1. First, what were you told to do when you are in trouble?
“I will pray,” he said. It's so natural.
However, despite these obvious words, there are many cases in which prayer does not go well when we are in trouble. Prayer is the natural duty of believers.
However, there are many cases in which we do not actually pray.
I do pray, but there are many times when I do it without faith. There are many times when I just habitually pray. Prayer should not be a prayer for prayer.
Asking us to pray “when we are in trouble” is sometimes annoying.
When we are in trouble, it is easier to come out first than to pray. How do you tell us to pray?
But if you take a step back and think about it, there are no more words of truth.
① Suppose there are people who complain during hardship.
Is resentment resolved?
② If I vomit in anger and swing my fists during hardship, does that solve the problem?
It's like drinking people trying to solve it with alcohol.
If you want to drink, you will have to drink real alcohol. It is not the wine of the old man, but the wine of the new person. what kind of drink is it?
It is the drink of the Spirit.
Seeing the early Christians testifying without fear, the Jews said they were drunk. In this way, the Holy Spirit has the transforming power to renew people.
① In many cases, suffering is caused by one's own fault.
That is why, when we are suffering, we are told to repent and pray.
② However, there are many cases of suffering caused by other people.
Whose fault is it that a person who only knew a job and a job suddenly left the job and became unemployed? Will the word to pray at a time like this work?
It's easy to complain.
But he told me to pray.
Words of comfort are heard during prayer, new wisdom is gained while praying, and new paths are created while praying.
It is said that the prayer of faith is raised up by the Lord.
To raise up by the Lord means to rise with the power that the Lord gives.
2. Second, what did you say to do when you are happy?
He said, "Is there anyone who rejoices? Let him praise."
There is no word so easily heard as to sing when we are happy. But in real life, nothing is so difficult to do.
In some ways, it is more difficult to sing in joy than to pray in pain.
This is because, when people are happy, they are so intoxicated with the joy that they often fail to remember God.
This may be the most difficult thing in your life of faith.
People should sing when the pain stops or the unfortunate circumstances go away
It's easier to do a lesson than a hymn.
A hymn comes from a grateful heart. It is easy to wish for greater joy when something pleasant happens to someone, but it is difficult to sing a hymn. Therefore, we should pray that we will sing hymns when we are happy in our religious life. God allows those who give thanks more to give thanks.
The Bible says, 'Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep'.
How many cases are there when this doesn't work out among the saints?
Those who enjoy together will also be happy.
If you sing a hymn together, you will sing the hymn yourself.
We have created a society where we only want personal enjoyment and cannot enjoy together.
I think it's time to fix this.
It is said that hymns are better than offering calves.
Because God is the Lord who dwells in praise.
Therefore, if we are happy, we should give thanks and glory to God through singing, not drinking, drinking, or dancing.
In that regard, I do not know how great the mission of the choir is.
Because the choir's praise is an offering to God that binds us all together.
3. Thirdly, what should you do when you are sick?
"Is any of you sick? He shall call upon the elders of the church, and they shall pray for them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord."
When we get sick, we go to the hospital first.
And see a doctor.
That's common sense.
Nowadays, many diseases that could not be cured in the past can be cured with advanced equipment and treatments.
Actually, think about it.
You are sick these days, do you ever ask for elders in the church?
What are you asking them to do?
It is to make them pray.
Note that here is the plural.
Individual prayer is necessary, but collective prayer is important.
There is a fact that the Lord also saw their faith and healed the sick when he healed the sick, when four people carrying a paralyzed man came down through the roof.
This is because it shows the importance of united prayer and great prayer.
The cause of illness has two spiritual meanings. One is a punishment for sin, and the other is a channel of deep grace experience.
When you get sick, you will repent. It is said that the most repentance occurs in the hospital bed, operating table, and recovery room. It is true.
Most of the sick people repent.
Also, only when you get sick and die and come back to life, the emotion of life, your outlook on life, and your values change.
A thank-you offering should be given to someone who has almost died.
But, what disease will the elders cure?
So I told them to pray while anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.
Here is the Iranian medicine. In ancient times, oil was widely used in folk remedies.
I saw that when the children played, boiled green onion in sesame oil and fed them, the game would disappear. That is why the medicine was created with wisdom given by God.
Therefore, it is not that medicine will cure, but that we should pray while taking medicine in the name of the Lord.
It is the power that the Lord causes to heal. “The Lord will raise me up,” he said.
Prayer moves the power of the Lord.
Let us experience what the Lord raises up through prayer.
Here is a point where we should not misunderstand the lesson of truth.
What is the difference between a shaman and a shaman? Those of shamanism are only trying to fulfill their greed.
We leave it to God.
If we entrust and pray, we hope that God's will will be done.
If we pray for God's will to be done, we must give up our will.
Whether we live or die, we want the name of Christ to be glorified.
If you do this, then God will be held accountable.
That's why he said, "The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up."
that the Lord will heal you.
And it is said that the prayers of the righteous have much power to work.
We hope that our faith will become more certain through this experience.
① Are there people who are suffering right now? Please pray.
② Are there people who are having fun right now? Please give thanks to God.
③ Are any of you sick right now?
I hope that you leave it to God first, write the medicine while praying, and invite the elders of the church to receive united prayer. When the church offered a great prayer for him, even if he had committed a sin, he would forgive him and the Lord would raise him up.
We sincerely hope that we will all have this experience. ♣